Bill Belichick, inspired by Lee Corso, came prepared for “College GameDay.”
With Army and Navy playing at Gillette Stadium, and Belichick’s Patriots off after winning Thursday, he submitted a guest pick while on the show’s set, pulling out a 1962 Navy helmet and fastening it on his head.
“My pick on this one, ‘Coach, I’m gonna take a page out of your book here,’” Belichick said, before explaining the design and its history within one of the sport’s historic rivalries.
Belichick’s father, Steve, worked on the football staff at the Naval Academy for decades — including when Belichick was growing up — and Belichick attended Annapolis High School.
He shared anecdotes on “College GameDay” about attending practices, following along with his dad Steve and establishing the foundation for his coaching career that has resulted in six Super Bowls with the Patriots.
But the conversation also focused on his Patriots tenure, as Pat McAfee dished out plenty of compliments for Belichick as a coach and general manager Saturday — calling it the “greatest dynasty of all time,” even while admitting that Belichick didn’t have to listen because “you’re probably gonna hate me for saying this.”
Earlier in the show, Patriots owner Robert Kraft joined the set and faced an awkward question from McAfee about the looming Belichick decision once their disappointing season ends.
There have been constant rumors about Belichick filling potential coaching vacancies with other teams if he is fired by the Patriots.
He called reports about him already selecting his next team “ridiculous” in late November.
Since then, the Patriots dipped to 2-10 before winning Thursday against the Steelers behind Bailey Zappe’s three first-half touchdowns.
“We like to win, so we want to do everything we can to get our team back so we can be winning,” Kraft said on the show about the Patriots’ struggles.
“I don’t envy your position,” McAfee responded. “What’s about to happen. We all know. We don’t have to ask.”
Kraft didn’t respond to McAfee insinuating Belichick’s firing, just silently shaking his hand instead.
Belichick and the Patriots face the Chiefs on Dec. 17 before road games against the Broncos and BIlls, though they’re essentially eliminated from postseason contention and could, at best, finish 7-0.
They’ve also dealt with a quarterback controversy throughout the entire season, with former first-round pick Mac Jones getting replaced in-game at times before Belichick turned to Zappe as the starter — with promising results, at least for the opening 30 minutes — against the Steelers.